Refrigerated can compartment



' Aug. 10, 1937. R HORTON 2,089,698

\ REFRIGERATED CAN COMPARTMENT Filed Ap'ril 35, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Illllllll INVENTOR. Rajah fiarfoxz V I I v TIT o I 0 x ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,089,698 7 REFRIGERATED CANCOMPARTMENT Ralph Horton, Kansas City,. Mo., assignor of forty-nine percent to R.; J. Potts. and J. B. Woodbury, both of Kansas City, Mb.

Application April 26,. 1935', Serial No.- 18,301

4 Claims.

This invention relates torefrigerated can compartments such as employedin soda fountains, ice cream cabinets and like fixtures wherein open topcans are placed in storage compartments that are surrounded by abody ofrefrigerating medium.

In compartments of this character, variation in the temperature betweenthe inner and outer surfaces thereof causes moisture in the air within10,.thev compartment to collect on the walls thereof in the form. offrost. When the compartment is frequently opened, this frost accumulatesto such an extent that it acts as an insulator and interferes withefficiency of the refrigerant. The frost 5 must, therefore, be scraped.off or melted with hot water, which process interferes with use of thecabinet and interferes with efficient operation of the refrigeratingunit. When defrosting is neglected, the frost often accumulates to suchan.extent' that the cans become so wedged. that they cannot be removedwithout damage to. the cans or the walls of the compartment.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providea compartment of this character with an auxiliary cover for sealing thespace between the walls of the compartments and ing relation to the sizeof the compartment, to,

provide a cover formed of an alloy metal wherein the pores close whensubjected to the cold air of a compartment, to provide for adjustabilityto height of the cans, and to provide the cover with means for levelingoff the contents of a dipper 40 with which the contents of the cans isremoved.

Additional objects of the invention are to permit reduction in theamount of refrigerant required to maintain the contents of the cans atthe desired temperature and to eliminate wasteage of contents of thecans when being dispensed therefrom.

In cabinets of the character described, the

walls become distorted because of changes in' refrigerant temperaturesand pressures, and it is,

,therefore, an object of the invention to provide the auxiliary coverwith a flexible rim element to compensate for such distortions.

In accomplishing these and other objects. of."

the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improveddetails of structure,.the prefer-red for-ms of which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1- is a perspective View of a portion of an ice cream cabinetillustrating a can compartment equipped with anauxiliary cover inaccordance with the-present invention.

Fig. 2 -is a cross section through the cabinet and auxiliary cover onthe line22, Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3. is: a detail perspective view of the auxiliary cover asviewedfrom above.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts composing one of the framesections of the cover shown in. disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the cover as viewed from below.

Fig- 6 is a. cross. section through one of the frame sections of thecover particularly illustratingthe sealing element.

Fig-3] is a perspective View of a cover as employed: in a single cancompartment.

Fig.- 8 is a diametric section through the form of. inventionillustrated in. Fig. 7.

Referring more in detail to.the drawings:

I designates. av cabinet: particularly designed for storing'cans. ofice. cream-in aconvenient manner so. that: the contents thereof may bemaintained at the required temperature While being dispensed; therefrom.

In, the illustrated instance the cabinet includes a seriesv of. cancompartments 2, 3 and 4 inset fromthe top 5 andspaced fromthe walls ofthe cabinetto provide passage ways.6 for the circulation of a cooltransfer medium such as chilled; brine or the like asindicated at 1.Each compartment includes. side walls: 8 and 9 connected bysubstantially semi-cylindrical end walls l and II thatare. spaced aparta suitable distance to house a pair of ice cream cans l2 and l3.-insucha manner that thereismaterial space about the sides of the cans. asindicated at M.

This space-is required in order to 'allow for the frost: which.accumulates on the inner walls of the'zcompartments incidental totheentrance of moisture.laden.= air through the door opening l intheetop: 5of thecabinet.

If this space were not provided; the cans would become sowedged bythe'frost accumulations. that they would be difiicult to remove.

The: space. is also essential to accommodate cans of differentdiameters. The openings l5 through which: the: cans. are insertedconform in shape to the cross section of the. compartments, but in orderto reduce the volume of air passing into the'compartmentathe openingsare made as small as possible to permit insertion of the cans and readyremoval of the contents therethrough. The top 5, therefore, overlaps thewall of the compartment and particularly that end which accommodates therear container as indicated at 16, in Fig. 2, only sufficient spacebeing left between the edge I! of the opening and the forward edge ofthe can l3 so as to permit removal of the cans contents. I v

The openings l5 are provided with a suitable frame l9 which carries aremovable cover 20 comprising end sections 2| and 22 hinged together atsubstantially the transverse center of the frame as indicated at 23 sothat one of the cover sections may be raised to allow access to one ofthe cans while the other cover section tio-ns to provide an overlappingseal with a similar remains closed to protect the contents of the othercan.

In the construction thus fardescribed, ,whenever the cover 20 is removedor one of the door sections raised, warm air rushes through the openingsand into the compartment incidental to suction created by openingthereof since the air in the compartment is contracted because of itsdrop in temperature.

This movement of warm air carries a large amount of moisture into thecompartment which condenses and collects on the ;walls of thecompartments in the form of frost, forming in effect an insulation,whichinterferes with efficient transfer of heat from the cansto therefrigerating medium. 7 1

As above pointed out, this frostmay accumulate to such an extent thatthe cans are difii- V cult to removeand require periodic removal of thefrost. This interferes with efficient operation and often causes loss inboth contents of the cans as well as investment due to the time that thecompartment is out of service. When the compartment is equipped with anauxiliary cover in accordance with the present invention, movement ofair is blocked from entering the spaces in and aroundthe cans and theair in the compartment is'maintained at a substantially constanttemperature which more nearly approaches the temperature. of theexterior sides of the compartment, thereby alleviating the frostformation. l

In actual practice, the rims 24 and 25 of the respective cans arespacedfrom the lower face of the overlying top .5 as indicated at .26which provide ample room for accommodating the auxiliary cover, as nowto be .described.

In the preferred form of the invention, the auxiliary cover includes aframe 2! conforming in shape to the horizontal cross section of thecompartment and of, sufficient width to pass through the opening E5 toseat upon the rims 24 and 25 of the cans.

Owing to the fact that the length .of the compartment is substantiallygreaterthan thelength of the openin:,l:it is necessarypto construct theframe in sections 28 and 29 hinged together in such a mannerthat thesection 29 .may be moved through the opening l5'and slid in the space 26between the overlapping portion I5 and. the rim 25 of the rear can whilethe other section is supported in, substantiallywertical position; Whenthe section 29 is in place the section 28 may then be moved through theopening to rest on the rim of the can [2. 1

In the illustrated instance, the section29 includes alower U-shapedclamping member .38 which cooperates with upper clamping members 3i and32 to retain a sealing or gasket element 33 therebetween. The gasketelement 33 comprisesv a r strip 34 of flexible material such as rubberfolded intermediate its width so that the side edges 35 and 35 arebrought into juxtaposition to overlie each other and be clamped betweenthe lower clamping member 3t and the upper clamping members 3i and 32 asbest illustrated in Fig. 6.

The extending or loose part of the gasket thus forms a tubular wing 3?in which is inserted a strip of sponge rubber 38 to retain the shapethereof when the gasket element is pressed into sealing engagement withthe walls of the compartment as later described The gasket elementextends about the outer edge of the section 29 and has ends 39 and 4!]projecting beyondthe ends of the clamping secgasket element M on thesection 28. The sponge rubber strip, however, terminates short of theends of the gasket strip so that the ends thereof may be sealed in faceto face contact.

The clamping members 3! andfi? conform to the contour of the lowerclamping member and the member 3! has a tongue shaped end 42 received ina socket 43 that is formed on the end of the member 32 for conveniencein casting.

The members 3! and 32 are also provided with downwardly extendingflanges 45 to engage in a recessed portion 45 formed in the innerperiphery of the member 38 so as to. cover the ends 35 and 36 of thegasket strip as best illustrated in Fig. 6.

After the clamping sections have been placed in superimposed positionwith the sealing element therebetween, rivets or other suitablefastening devices t6 are extended through aligning openings Al and d8 inthe respective upper and lower clamping members to secure the partstogether and the gasket element in firmly clamped position. In order tosupplement the clamping engagement of the gasket or seating element, theedges of the strip may be cemented to the clamping portions of the frameby a suitable cement.

The sealing material thus positively cioses the interior of thetubularwing 31 to form a dead air space therein that serves as insulation toretard the transfer of heat and cold about the periphery of the frame. Y

The lower clamping member 30 has an inwardly extending web portion 49which substantially conforms in radius to that of the can rim 25 asshown in Figs. 1 and 2.: p

The section 28 of the frame includes a flat plate portion 50 shaped toconform to that end' of the compartment and having 'a circular opening5! therein in alignmentwith the top of the can I2. The end of the plateadjacent the terminal ends 52 and 53 of the sectionZQ is provided withterminal portions 54 and 55 adjustably mounting ear members 55 and Elthat are connected to ears 58 and 59 rigidly attached to the terminalends of the frame section 29. The ear members 56 and 51 overlap the earportions 58 and 59 and are hingedly connected therewith 'by'means ofpins 60 and 6! extending therethrou gh as shown in Fig. 3. I a

In order to adjustably mount the ear members 56 and 5? on the bodyportion of the frame to compensatefor length of the compartment they areprovided with longitudinal slots 62 and 53 through which fastening,devices 6:3 and 65 are extended and through openings formed in theextensions 56 and 55 of the frame. The fastening devices includethreaded shanks which project fromthe lower face of the plate portion ofthe frame and are provided with wing nuts 66 and 61 whereby the earmembers are adjustably.

clamped thereto.

The frame section 28 also includes a U-shaped clamp member formed insections 68 and 69 similar to the members 3! and 32 of theotherframesection and clamped thereby to the plate member is a gasketelement4! formed in exactly the samemanner as the one described on the othersection.

The gasket element 4| has projecting ends 10 and H under or overlyingthe projecting ends 39 and 4B of the other gasket as'shown in Fig. 3 toclose the space between hinging portions of the frame sections.

Inorder to guidingly support the ear members- 56 and 51 the bodyportions thereof have lon gitudinal rabbet grooves 12 and i3 in theouter edges thereof to pro-vide'faces overlying the upper and inner sideedges of the clamping members as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to retain the cans in their proper position and preventshifting thereof under the auxiliary cover, the frame section 28 isprovided with depending arcuate lugs M and 15 adapted to engage theforward portions of the rims of the respective cans as best illustratedin Fig. 2, the lug l5 engaging the inner side of the rim on the can i3and the lug Ed the outer side of the rim on the can i2. The cans i2 andiii are thus retained in contact with each other sothat they cannotshift their position relatively to the opening 56 in the frame section28 and the opening 16 that is provided in the other section incidentalto the arcuate web 4% and an arcuate shaped cutout H in the plateportion ll of the section 28.

The cans may be further supported by similarly depending pairs of lugs78 and i9 engaging the sides of the cans opposite to the lugs 14 and 15;however, in ordinary instances these lugs are not necessarily required.

To retain the frame in position within the compartment the side portionsof the'frame section 28 are provided with lugs 30 and 8! that areattached thereto and carry adjusting screws 82 and 33 each includingwing shaped heads 84 having shank portions 85 threadedly mounted in theears and engaging against the opposite side walls of the compartment.

While the frame members thus described may be formed of variousmaterials, they are preferably cast from an alloy metal havingrelatively low heat retaining capacity and of such a nature that thepores thereof will close under low temperatures to prevent leakage ofair therethrough, and to prevent frosting thereof which would moistenand ruin any ice cream that might fall thereon.

In applying the frame constructed and assembled as described, thesection 28 is moved on the hinge pins 66 and Si so that it lies atsubstantially right angles to the section 29. The section 29 is theninserted through the opening l5 and into the space 26 so that the webportion thereof rests on the rim of the can I3.

The section 28 is then hinged backwardly so that the plate portionthereof is supported on the rim of the can I2. The frame may then beadjusted as to length by loosening the wing nuts 66 and 61 and slidingthe sections apart until the gasket elements are in wedging relationwith the end walls of the compartment. The wing nuts are thenretightened to retain the gaskets in sealing relation.

After this adjustment has been made, the screws 82 and 83 aremanipulated in the ears and 8| so that the shanks thereof engage againstthe side walls of the compartment to retain the frame in seated relationon the cans when the dispensing dipper is scraped thereagainst as laterdescribed.

When in position within the compartments, the ends of the frame sectionsdo not abut but the spaces therebetween are closed by the overlappingends of the gasket elements as shown in Fig. 1.

When the frame is in position, the gasket element completely closes thespace about the peripheries of the cans so as to retain dead air thereinat a temperature substantially equivalent to the temperature of therefrigerating medium, thereby preventing the formation of frost betweenthe walls of the cans and walls of the compartment. The hinging featureof the frame sections also compensates for cans of different height inthe same compartment and allows a closer fit than would be otherwisepossible. It is true that the cover sections will not fit tightlyagainst the entire circumferences of the cans but they will still beeffective for the purpose intended.

The frame thus described also forms a cover by which cream that may fallfrom the dipper is prevented from dropping into the compartment betweenthe cans. Should any of the cream fall from the dipper it will strikethe frame and drop back into the can and not be wasted as in presentpractice.

In order to provide the cover with scraping means so that each dipperfull may be leveled off as it is withdrawn from the can, the plateportion of the section 28 has tongues and 86 projecting inwardly overthe tops of the respective cans so that as the filled dipper is removedfrom i the can it may be wiped over the tongues to remove surplus creamwhich falls from the scrapers back into the can.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. '7 is adapted to single cancompartments and the upper and lower clamping plates 81 and 88 aretherefore of circular formation to carry a circular gasket element 89that is constructed in the same manner as the gasket elements in thepreferred form of the invention. The lower clamping ring 88 has adepending circular flange 90 adapted to engage within the rim of a canto retain it in centered position in the compartment.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an auxiliarycover which excludes movement of moisture laden air into the spacesurrounding the cans and therefore prevents formation of frost. It isalso apparent that due to the sealing engagement of the cover with thewalls of the compartments, a dead air space is formed to retain the coldadmitted from the refrigerating medium so that the cans are retained atsubstantially the same temperature as that of the brine. It has beenfound that in most instances the refrigerating medium may be maintainedat lower temperatures after installation of the auxiliary covers,thereby saving in the operating cost of the refrigerating unit.

It is also apparent that because of flexibility of the sealing elementand the adjustability between the frame sections, the frame is readilyaccommodated to either one of the two present standard size compartmentsand if the walls of the compartments have been damaged, the gasketelement will automatically fill irregularities caused by such damage aswell as take care of variation in size and shape due to expansion andcontraction.

To remove the auxiliary cover, the screws 82 and 83 are loosened and thesection 28 is: then lifted upwardly hinging on the pins and .8! afterwhich the other section may be withdrawn so that the entire frame may beremoved through the opening in reverse order to its placement. After theauxiliary cover has been removed, the cans may be readily withdrawn fromthe compartment as there is no frost tending to seal them in as in thecase of cabinets Without the auxiliary covers.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a can compartment of the character described, anauxiliary cover for the compartment including interconnected framemembers shaped to provide openings registering with open tops of canssupported in the compartment, pairs of aligning ears on the respectiveframe members, means connecting said ears for hinging the frame memberstogether, sealing means carried by and projecting beyond outer edges ofsaid frame members, and means for adjustably mounting one pair of saidears to move said frame members apart whereby the projecting portions ofthe sealing means are retained in sealing contact with the walls of thecan compartment.

2. In combination with a can compartment of the character described, anauxiliary cover for the compartment including interconnected framemembers shaped to provide openings registering with open tops of cansupported in the compartment, pairs of aligning ears on the respectiveframe members, means connecting said ears for hinging the frame memberstogether, sealing means carried by and projecting beyond outer edges ofsaid frame members, means for adjustably mounting one pair of said earsto move said frame members apart whereby the projecting portions of thesealing means are retained in sealing contact with the walls of thecancompartment, and means mounted on the frame members engageable withportions of said can compartment for retaining said cover in position.

3. In combination with a can compartment of the character described, anauxiliary cover for the compartment including interconnected framemembers shaped to provide openings registering with open tops of canssupported in the compartment, pairs of aligning ears on the respectiveframe members, means connecting said ears for hinging the frame memberstogether, sealing means carried by and projecting beyond outer edges ofsaid frame members having overlapping projecting ends at the hingepoints of said frame members to close the space there between when theframe members are moved apart, and means for adjustably mounting onepair of said ears to move said frame members apart whereby theprojecting portions of the sealing means are retained in sealing contactwith the walls of the can compartment. 7

4. In combination with a can compartment of the character described, anauxiliary cover for the compartment including interconnected framemembers shaped to provide openings registering with open tops of canssupported in the compartment, pairs of aligning ears on the respectiveframe members, means connecting said ears for hinging the frame memberstogether, sealing means carried by and projecting beyond outer edges ofsaid frame members having overlapping projecting ends at the hingepoints of said frame members to close the space therebetween when theframe members are moved apart, means for adjustably mounting one pair ofsaid ears to move said frame members apart whereby the projectingportions of the sealing means are retained in sealing contact with thewalls of the can compartment, and means mounted on the frame membersengageable with portions of said can compartment for retaining saidcover in position.

- RALPH HORTON.

